Kronenwetter, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kronenwetter, Wisconsin
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Kronenwetter Municipal Center
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| Motto(s):
"Come Grow With Us"
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Location of Kronenwetter in Marathon County, Wisconsin.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Marathon |
| Incorporation | 2002 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Board of Trustees |
| Area | |
| • Total | 51.97 sq mi (134.61 km2) |
| • Land | 51.61 sq mi (133.66 km2) |
| • Water | 0.36 sq mi (0.95 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,198 ft (365 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,353 |
| • Density | 156.55/sq mi (60.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
54455
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| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-40550 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1583496 |
Kronenwetter is a village located in Marathon County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2020, about 8,353 people lived there. It's known for being the largest village in Wisconsin by land area. Kronenwetter is also the third-largest community in Marathon County by population. It is part of the Wausau metropolitan area.
The residential area of Evergreen is found within the village. Another former community called Peplin was also part of Kronenwetter before it became a village.
Contents
History of Kronenwetter
Before Kronenwetter became a town, the area had several small settlements. Around 1855, a Native American man named Keeler built a small sawmill. He dug a canal to use the water power from Bull Jr. Creek. This area became known as Keelerville.
In 1857, Sebastian Kronenwetter moved to the area. He bought Keeler's sawmill and made it very successful. Over the years, Kronenwetter also owned a hotel. He built another sawmill in what is now the city of Mosinee. In 1885, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, which is like the state's law-making body.
On November 11, 1886, a new town called Kronenwetter was formed. It was created from the eastern part of the town of Mosinee. Sebastian Kronenwetter passed away in 1902 and was buried in the Mosinee cemetery.
Growth and Development
Kronenwetter grew quite a bit around 1910. The Worzella brothers bought a large amount of land, about 26,000 acres (105 square kilometers). They built a Polish community called Peplin. This community was near County Highway X and East State Highway 153.
The brothers built a sawmill, a store, an office, a blacksmith shop, and homes for their workers. To attract people, they printed brochures in Polish. These brochures described the area and were sent to big cities in the United States. They also placed ads in Polish newspapers. The brochures showed pictures of beautiful farms to encourage Polish people to move there.
Some of the first people to arrive were Vince Ruzga, Albert Wonsil, and Alex Dyda. The Worzella brothers built homes for the new settlers. A three-room house cost $350, and a five-room house cost $450. The original sawmill eventually closed. However, other sawmills were built nearby. They were important for the community because lumber was needed for new homes. All the sawmills stopped working by 1930. During these years, schools were built, and more people moved to the town.
Becoming a Village
On November 5, 2002, the people living in Kronenwetter voted to change their town into a village. This change officially happened on November 20, 2002. The first village board of trustees, which is a group of leaders, started their work on January 13, 2003. On February 24, 2003, the village took over the rest of the old town. This meant the town of Kronenwetter no longer existed as a separate legal area.
People in Kronenwetter use the same postal zip code, 54455, as the nearby city of Mosinee. Even though Kronenwetter has more people than Mosinee, they shared the zip code. In 2010, the US Postal Service asked residents if they wanted to use "Kronenwetter, WI 54455" as a valid address. Most people said yes. So, the shared zip code officially started in mid-2010.
Geography
Kronenwetter is a large village. It covers about 52.06 square miles (134.83 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area, about 51.70 square miles (133.90 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.36 square miles (0.93 square kilometers), is water. This makes Kronenwetter the largest village in Wisconsin based on its land area.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 7,210 | — | |
| 2020 | 8,353 | 15.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 7,210 people living in Kronenwetter. There were 2,652 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 2,069 of these were families. The village had about 139.5 people per square mile (53.9 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people in the village were White (94.5%). There were also smaller groups of African American (0.3%), Native American (0.3%), and Asian (3.7%) residents. About 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (38.4%) had children under 18 living with them. Most households (65.9%) were married couples living together. About 15.8% of all households were single individuals. The average household had 2.71 people.
The average age in the village was 37.3 years old. About 26.9% of residents were under 18. About 10.2% were 65 years old or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (50.4%) and females (49.6%).
Parks and Recreation
Kronenwetter has many parks and outdoor areas for everyone to enjoy:
- Friendship Park: Located at 2350 Sunny Meadow Drive
- Gooding Park: Found at 2200 Old Highway 51
- Kronenwetter Forestry Unit: At 4420 East State Highway 153
- Leather Camp Forestry Unit: At 4445 East State Highway 153
- Municipal Park: Located at 1582 Kronenwetter Drive
- Norm Plaza Memorial Park: Found at 1077 Russell Street
- Seville Park: At 2200 Glendalen Road
- Buska Park: Located at 2390 Terrebonne Drive
- Tower Park Recreational & Soccer Fields: At 2355 Tower Road
- Joe Swiderski Park: Found at 1750 Sunkist Street
Education
Students in Kronenwetter attend schools in two different public school districts. The D.C. Everest School District serves students in the northern part of the village. The Mosinee School District serves students in the southern part.
There is also a private school in Kronenwetter called Northland Lutheran High School. It is a Lutheran school for students in grades 9 through 12.
Transportation
Kronenwetter is connected by several important roads:
U.S. Highway 51
Interstate 39
Highway 153 (Wisconsin)
The Central Wisconsin Airport (KCWA) is nearby. It offers commercial flights and general aviation services for Kronenwetter and the surrounding areas.
Public Services
Kronenwetter has its own police department. It was started in 2004, and Daniel Joling was the first chief of police. Since then, more officers and staff have joined the department. The Kronenwetter Police Department provides police coverage 24 hours a day, every day.
The Kronenwetter Fire Department helps keep the village safe from fires. They also provide rescue services for Kronenwetter and the nearby town of Guenther.
Emergency medical services (EMS) are provided by the Riverside Fire District through a special agreement.
Notable Residents
- Sebastian Kronenwetter: He was a pioneer, a successful businessman, and a state legislator who helped found the area.
See also
In Spanish: Kronenwetter para niños
